Early snowfall in the North Cascades makes everyone happy around here. After two low snow years, we are hoping (against predictions) for lots and lots of snow for fun and to replenish the depleted aquifers and streams and maybe to give us a reprieve from wildfires next year.
MA and I loaded the dogs and various layers of winter clothes and drove to Rainy Pass where we found ten inches of snow on the ground and hardly any tracks. We were the first to walk to Rainy Lake. It looked like some folks had gone to Maple Pass – nothing we wanted to try in winter conditions. The dogs and especially Luna were delighted to see snow again! It seems like so much more fun for them to run and romp hard with a soft white blanket to cushion the crashes.
At the lake I attempted to re-create a portrait of Sky that I made two years ago when she was a three month old puppy. You can see the original here. It’s similar but she is looking the wrong direction. My fault!
Sky and I went to Loon Lake, WA last week for a NADAC agility trial. We met several friends there and had a terrific time. Out of fifteen runs, we had three qualifiers and three runs with only one error. For us, that’s a very good showing. We know our weak spots and what we need to work on before the next event.
Along the way in both directions, I stopped as often as possible to explore the landscapes. It is really a beautiful part of the state and with fall colors, even more so. We crossed the Loup (Loup Loup Pass), went down the lower Okanogan and across the Columbia, up to Grand Coulee and then south to Wilbur at highway 2. From there we went north at Reardan to Springdale and over to Loon Lake. There’s a lot of little towns in Washington and the highways don’t often go directly from one community to the next. This sounds like a complicated route but really, it’s the quickest way. On the way home, we went from Springdale to Fruitland and then down to Creston, making for a longer trip with an overnight stop but it was worth it to meet new friends and see the mountains between Springdale and the Columbia and various wildlife too. I saw lots of white-tailed deer and wild turkeys and a coyote and a porcupine. I also got to see some of the Carpenter Canyon wildfire that burned this summer.
On the way to Loon Lake
Heading down our road I realize I’m going to need new wiper blades in addition to a latte before I get out of town.
Up the Twisp River to drop Luna off with her friends Quincy and Frida til Ken can pick her up that evening.
Also along the Twisp River. Evidence of the fire that burned this summer. Retardant makes the trees even more colorful than usual.
We stopped to walk on the x country ski trails at the Loup.
The trails are carpeted with larch needles.
Larch needles on a rock.
Ponderosa pine cone and larch needles
Wolf lichen on a pine tree.
Oh look, Sky found a stick.
I think these are kinnikinnick berries.
Some larch needles remain on a small tree
Lichen at the end of a cut tree
More lichen
This is sort of like one of those silly Halloween images
Waiting for a treat
Is this a stick or a log?
Pine drops
Beautiful western larch treees
I love these sculpted by wind sand hills
Winter wheat in Lincoln County
Long straight road to Wilbur
Maple tree clothed in yellow
Mountain ash berries
Tiny mushrooms
A hydro power plant on the Spokane River
What do you mean we have to get back in the car? I’m just starting to have fun.
It’s interesting that many of my recent blog posts which are, admittedly, few and far between these days, are about the night sky. Or hikes. But certainly I seem to be paying more attention to the night sky. I’ve always appreciated dark skies not illuminated by artificial lighting. But why more photos of the night? It’s never been something I’ve pursued. Maybe it’s because at night, I don’t see the devastation that came from wildfires the last two summers? Or maybe as I age I gain a greater appreciation for the infinite reaches of the space outside our own atmosphere? Or maybe I just don’t sleep as much as I used to!
Anyway, for whatever reason, here is another set of images from the Aurora Borealis. It’s best to watch the slide show but you never know when you get to the end!
There is a chance that the lights will continue this week but I am feeling sleep deprived so this might be the last of the night postings for a while.
It’s good to go outside with the dogs at night. Sometimes they see something, like a deer, that brings on a fit of barking and they need to be corralled. Other times I see something interesting. Last night it was the clouds. They were thin and illuminated by the waxing moon that was low in the west. These views are looking north. The dogs went inside long before I did.
This is another great fall hike! We started at the Cutthroat trailhead and hiked five and a half miles to the pass where we connected with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and hiked down another five or so miles to Rainy Pass where we had left a second car in the morning. We did not have the blue skies and sunshine of the previous week’s hike and that made the dogs a lot more comfortable. Also there were numerous stream crossings, especially on the Rainy Pass side, where the dogs could wet their whistles. At the pass we saw quite a few PCT through hikers who were nearly to their goal on their hike from Mexico to Canada. The ones we talked to said they should reach the border in just four more days. They were all cheerful and looked healthy and hearty. After such a long journey on foot, I think I expected them to look gaunt and tired.
Starting up the trail, not yet to Cutthroat Lake
Unexpected water on the trail
I love this enormous slab of rock. Can you see the face in it?
Quincy looks good in red
The start of our walk through the magnificent yellow larch trees
Left to Canada or right to go south. We went south.
Luna celebrated her 9th birthday the day after this 11 mile hike!
It’s so hard to get everyone to pose all at once!
Tails
Through hikers enjoying a grand view at lunch time. I wonder how many of these grand views they’ve had since spring?
Seems like one small earthquake could change the face of that mountain
Looking south into the central Casades
Lots of switchbacks make for an easy grade.
The golden larch season is fleeting. It’s best to enjoy it while we can.
Out of the larches and into the dark forest.
It was so nice to see small creeks in this drought-stricken year.
My Everyday Photos 